[press release from AFCA]
Australian Film Critics’ Association (AFCA) is proud to announce the results of their 2008 Film Awards. Encompassing four categories comprising Best Australian Film, Best Overseas Film, Best Documentary and Best Un-released Film, the winners were:
Best Australian Film: WINNER: The Black Balloon (Australia)
Commended: The Square (Australia)
Best Overseas Film: WINNER: There Will Be Blood (USA)
Commended: Dark Knight (USA)
Best Documentary: WINNER: Man On A Wire (UK/USA)
Commended: Not Quite Hollywood (Australia)
Best Un-released Film: WINNER: En La Ciudad De Sylvia
(In Sylvia’s City) (Spain)
Commended: Les Amours d’Astrée et de Céladon
(The Romance of Astree & Celadon)
(France/Italy/Spain)
In 2009 AFCA will launch its inaugural awards for film writing to be called the AFCA Ivan Hutchinson Award for Excellence in Film Writing which will offer two cash prizes – one for the Best Essay or Article on Australian film, the other for the Best Example of Film Criticism.
Entries will open May 1, 2009. Further details will be announced closer to the date.
AFCA started life as the Melbourne Film Critics’ Forum in 1996, expanding to a national organization in 2004 and is a member of FIPRESCI, the revered International Federation of Film Critics and Film Journalists. AFCA’s members, many of whom are globally acknowledged as experts in their field, are comprised of professional film critics, film reviewers and film journalists who provide informed discussion, analysis and comment on Australian and world cinema.
AFCA supports both mainstream and independent cinema and particularly aims to generate appreciation for significant or challenging films that may, for whatever reason, have been overlooked.
AFCA also enjoys an association with Australian Centre for Moving Image (ACMI) for which it hosts regular screenings and panel discussions.